Kids less active despite variety of sports

Waterloo Region Record

Another year has come and gone, the regretful neglect of our 2012 resolutions replaced with the renewed hope of yet another clean slate. And as we prepare to pursue our perennial pledges of eating healthy, losing weight and getting in shape, there is no better time to promote active living for our children.

The latest statistics from participACTION indicate the level of physical activity among kids in Canada is the lowest it has been in decades, while the rate of childhood obesity is at its highest.

According to Mark Eys, associate professor of kinesiology, physical education and psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University, only about 60 per cent of youth aged 15 to 18 participate in sport, down from about 75 per cent in the early 90s.

On top of that, Eys says, only seven per cent of kids in this age group are meeting the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines set out by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology.

The national guidelines recommend youth aged five to 17 get at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day, as well as three days of vigorous-intensity activity and three days of muscle- and bone-strengthening activity per week. The guidelines also recommend limiting screen time to less than two hours per day and reducing the amount of time kids spend indoors.

And while Eys says the decline in physical activity among youth is “gravely concerning,” he also says the trend is easily reversible.

“Resolve to set hard limits for your kids on sedentary pursuits such as television viewing and sitting in front of a computer,” he recommends.

What makes the lack of sport participation so ironic, Eys says, is the plethora of programs available.

“There is a wonderful selection of physical activities for kids,” he says, “making it all the more mind-boggling that activity rates are down.”

In addition to the traditional sports such as soccer and hockey and football and baseball, less common sports ranging from gymnastics to rugby are becoming more accessible. Waterloo Region is home to more community-based clubs than ever before, each of them offering programs for various age groups and levels of competitiveness.

According to Eys, who serves as a Canada research chair in group dynamics and physical activity, the benefits of sport go well beyond the obvious physical improvements in muscle development, motor development and coordination.

“There are a number of social skills that can be developed in a positive sport environment,” he says. “These include learning how to work as a member of a team, developing a sense of sportspersonship and being given opportunities to provide leadership, as well as learning how to be an effective ‘follower.’ ”

He adds, however, that there have been criticisms about the “sport builds character” assumption and warns parents to be wary about their children specializing in one sport too early.

“Pressures for year-round involvement in one sport occur very early in development now, and while this might benefit a select few, the vast majority would probably benefit from a smorgasbord of activities throughout childhood,” he says. “For me, providing exposure to a wide range of activities to see what clicks for the kid represents the best of all worlds.”

Eys also stresses the importance of balancing the scales between competitiveness and fun.

“Adults need to be wary of the negative social messages that can be sent in hyper-competitive, win-at-all-costs environments that affect kids who are still in the midst of developing personally and morally,” he says.

Above all else, however, Eys says the most important thing is for parents to lead by example.

“As a parent, resolve to act as a role model for your kids and get out and be active,” he says. “Enrolling your child is one thing, but living the example will be even more powerful.”